Togo Conducts Landmark Senate Elections Amidst Opposition Outcry
Togo held its first-ever senatorial elections, with municipal and regional councilors participating. The new constitution has raised concerns that President Faure Gnassingbe seeks to maintain power indefinitely. Several opposition parties are boycotting the vote, labeling the reforms a rigged process. Supporters of the president argue the changes enhance representation, while opposition groups criticize the elections as undemocratic and financially imprudent.
On Saturday, Togo conducted its inaugural senatorial elections with municipal and regional councilors participating. This landmark event has been met with concerns that President Faure Gnassingbe intends to leverage the new constitutional framework to secure an indefinite hold on power. Certain opposition factions have announced their decision to boycott the elections, claiming the parliamentary reforms are fundamentally flawed and reflect a rigged process.
The revised constitution transitions from the direct election of the president to a parliamentary system, rendering the presidential role mainly ceremonial. Consequently, authority will be vested in the President of the Council of Ministers, a position currently held by Mr. Gnassingbe, who has been in power since 2005, following his father’s lengthy rule of 38 years. Under the previous constitution, he faced a limit on seeking re-election, which was set for this year.
The elections involve more than 1,500 municipal councilors and 179 regional councilors who will choose 41 of the 61 new senators from among 89 candidates. The remaining senators will be appointed by the President of the Council of Ministers, currently Mr. Gnassingbe.
Municipal councilor Vimenyo Koffi commented on the importance of the new constitution, stating, “It’s a new constitution that we have never tested. We had to test it to see the sides that are not good and to appreciate the rest.” Meanwhile, the opposition group Alliance of Democrats for Integral Development (ADDI) confirmed its participation in the elections, contrasting with factions like the National Alliance for Change (ANC) and the Democratic Forces for the Republic (FDR), who chose to boycott the process.
The ANC described the election as an “anti-democratic process that aims to install an illegal and illegitimate republic,” reflecting widespread criticism among dissenting groups. Additionally, the FDR condemned the Senate as a costly venture, stating, “the Senate would be a costly institution while our municipalities and regions painfully lack the financial means to address the population’s vital needs.”
In support of the constitutional amendments, Mr. Gnassingbe’s party argues that they promote greater representation. His governing party, the Union for the Republic, previously won legislative elections by a significant margin, although critics labeled the election as riddled with “massive fraud.”
The first senatorial election in Togo has sparked significant political controversy, with opposition parties denouncing the new constitutional reforms as a means for President Faure Gnassingbe to extend his tenure unlawfully. While some groups have chosen to participate in the elections, many others have opted for a boycott, criticizing the process as undemocratic and a financial burden. The outcome of this election and the stability of the Senate remain pivotal for Togo’s political landscape.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
